Dolomites cable cars guide: how to use lifts for incredible views
You do not need to be a serious hiker to experience the Dolomites properly. After 16 years of coming here, one of the things I think first-time visitors underestimate most is just how much the lift system changes what you can do.
The important part is not simply knowing which lifts exist. It is knowing which ones are worth building a day around, how much walking is really involved at the top, and which make sense from the base you have chosen.
For a more detailed comparison of the major summer lifts, including what you can do at the top, how much walking to expect, and which ones suit hikers or non-hikers, see my dedicated Dolomites cable cars page.
How the lift system works
There are three main types of lift you will encounter in the Dolomites.
Gondolas are enclosed cabins that move continuously through the stations, usually carrying a small group of passengers at a time.
Cable cars are much larger cabins that travel back and forth between two fixed stations.
Chairlifts are open-air seats on a moving cable. They are more common at mid-altitude and in ski areas. In summer they provide access to plateaus and mid-mountain areas where the hiking is gentler.
Most lifts in the Dolomites operate from late May or early June through to early or mid-October, with exact dates varying by area and snowfall. Always check opening dates before you go, particularly if visiting outside July and August.
Seceda, Val Gardena
The Seceda lift system above Ortisei is one of the most spectacular in the Dolomites. Two lifts - a gondola from the town centre to Furnes, then a cable car to the Seceda plateau - bring you to 2500 metres in around 15 minutes.
From the top, the famous ridgeline of the Odle peaks stretches along the horizon. The main viewpoint is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the upper station on a flat, well-marked path. The scenery here is extraordinary and the effort required is minimal.
For 2026, the official Seceda website recommends purchasing tickets online in advance. If Seceda is a priority, this is particularly sensible during July and August and on busy weekends.
For a full guide to visiting Seceda including timing, what to wear, and how to make the most of the day, read my Seceda guide.
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), Val Gardena
The gondola from Ortisei to Alpe di Siusi brings you to Europe's largest high-altitude alpine meadow - a vast, flower-covered plateau at around 2000 meters with the Sassolungo and Langkofel groups rising dramatically at one end.
This is one of the most peaceful and accessible areas in the Dolomites. The paths across the plateau are wide and gentle, there are plenty of gentle walks and rifugi you can reach without committing to a long hike and the scenery changes constantly as you move across the meadow. It is ideal for people who want to spend time in the mountains without any of the stress of steep or technical terrain. For ideas on how to build a full day up here, see the guide to Easy Walks in the Dolomites.
The cable car from Ortisei runs frequently and the plateau is also accessible by road from the Siusi side, though cars are restricted in peak season. Going by lift from Ortisei is the simplest option for most visitors.
Lagazuoi, Cortina d'Ampezzo
The Lagazuoi cable car rises from Passo Falzarego to 2752 metres - one of the highest points reachable by lift in the Dolomites. The views from the top are extraordinary in every direction: the Ampezzo Dolomites to the east, the Marmolada glacier to the south, the Tofane group across the valley, and on a clear day the pale wall of the Dolomites stretching to the horizon.
There is a rifugio at the summit for lunch or coffee, and a network of paths for those who want to walk. For those who don't, simply sitting on the terrace and taking in the panorama is reason enough to come.
Lagazuoi works beautifully combined with a drive over Passo Giau nearby - both can be done in a single day from Cortina. For more on building a day around scenic drives and lifts in this area, read my Scenic Drives article.
Sass Pordoi, Val di Fassa
The cable car from Passo Pordoi reaches 2950 metres on the southern edge of the Sella Group - the highest lift-accessible viewpoint in the central Dolomites. The plateau at the top is a remarkable lunar landscape of pale rock with views that stretch across the entire region.
The main viewing area beside the upper station is easy to reach, so non-hikers can enjoy the panorama without walking far. Beyond this immediate area, the plateau is rocky and uneven. The sense of altitude and scale is unlike anywhere else accessible by lift in the Dolomites.. This is a genuine highlight and one that is often underestimated by first-time visitors.
Passo Pordoi sits on the Sella Ronda circuit, making Sass Pordoi a natural addition to a scenic drive day around the central passes.
Cinque Torri, near Cortina
The open chairlift from Bai de Dones, on the road between Cortina and Passo Falzarego, takes you directly up toward the Cinque Torri.i - five extraordinary rock towers rising from the alpine meadow above Cortina. Short paths that are uneven in places, loop around the towers and the views back toward the Tofane group and across the Ampezzo valley are exceptional.
There is a wonderful rifugio here for lunch, and the area also has a fascinating open-air World War I museum built into the rocks - the Dolomites were a front line during the First World War and the fortifications around Cinque Torri are some of the best preserved in the region.
This works very well combined with the Lagazuoi cable car, as both are located close to Passo Falzarego.
Boè Gondola, Corvara (Alta Badia)
From the centre of Corvara, the Boè gondola lifts you toward the Sella Group with wide views opening up across Alta Badia as you ascend. From the upper stations there are rifugi, easy walking paths, and dramatic views across multiple mountain groups.
This is one of the most convenient lift systems in the Dolomites for anyone based in Alta Badia - you can be at altitude within 15 minutes of leaving your hotel. The Pralongià plateau, also reachable from Corvara by a separate chairlift, is another excellent option for gentle high-altitude walking with panoramic views in every direction.
Practical tips for using cable cars
Go early. The first lifts of the day are always the quietest. By mid-morning queues build at the most popular stations, particularly Seceda and Alpe di Siusi in peak season.
Check the weather before you go. There is no point paying for a lift ticket if the peaks are buried in cloud. Most lift companies have webcams on their websites - check the morning of your visit before heading out.
Bring layers. Even in July and August, temperatures at 2500 metres are significantly cooler than in the valley. A light jacket and something windproof will make the day much more comfortable.
The temptation is to treat a cable car visit as a quick half-day. The areas at the top of the best lifts deserve more time. A full day, with time to walk around, stop for lunch at a rifugio and enjoy the views, is almost always better than rushing. See Best Day Trips Without Long Hikes for ideas on structuring an easy day in the mountains.
Book in advance where possible. Seceda now requires advance booking in peak season. Other lifts may introduce similar systems. Check before you go.
Free Guide: Cable Car Cheat Sheet
Some of the key cable cars in the Dolomites in one place, including what to expect at the top and which ones suit different types of trips.
Download the free Cable Car Cheat Sheet
Want help deciding which lifts actually belong in your trip?
The mistake is not choosing the wrong cable car. It is building an itinerary around a list of famous places without considering where you are staying, how much walking you want to do, the weather and what realistically fits into one day.
Those are the decisions that turn a list of places into a trip that actually works, and they are exactly what I work through when I plan an itinerary for a client.
